Sisters of the Good Shepherd to close

MARLBOROUGH – The Sisters of the Good Shepherd will close at the end of the month due to declining numbers and increased health care needs.

The leadership team of the Sisters of the Good Shepherd announced its decision with great sadness in a press release Friday. They will seek appropriate placements for eight sisters living at the Marlborough center, according to the release.

Officials from the Boston Archdiocese and Sister Jane Amirault could not be reached for comment Friday.

The U.S. Foundation of the Sisters of the Good Shepherd began on Dec. 1, 1842 in Kentucky.

The Sisters of the Good Shepherd have a long history in the Archdiocese of Boston. The sisters came to Boston in 1867 at the request of the archbishop to begin their ministry of healing, peace, justice, moral support and education for many women in need. Their services extended to those of all ages from the very young, which overcrowded orphanages could not accommodate, to a vast number of pre-teen, young adult and older adults, according to the release.

Due to changes in education and child care practices, the sisters’ Huntington Avenue facility in Boston no longer met the needs of the girls and a new home was built at Madonna Hall for Girls in Marlborough.

The phenomenon of de-institutionalization during the late 1960s and 70s in Massachusetts affected the child care program at Madonna Hall, which closed in 1985.

Bill Cummings purchased the property in 1992 and constructed the New Horizons retirement community. The sisters have lived on the property since 1992 to help facility managers offer daily mass in the chapel, which will remain open, according to the release.

Jeff Malachowski can be reached at 508-490-7466 or jmalachowski@wickedlocal.com. Follow him on Twitter @JmalachowskiMW.